Relief valve



Feb. 6, 1945. R. J. ANsCHlcKs 2,369,005

RELIEF VALVE Filed April 15, 1943 v2 sheets-sheet 1 @0e/fr fafgvfjfc daFeb 6, 1945- ,R. J. ANscHlcKs '2,369,005

RELIEF VALVE Filed Apl 15, 1943 2 Sheets-Shet 2 'Il iiillllillllllllllllPatented Feb. 6, 1945 Protectoseal Company ofAmerc'a, Inc., Chicago,Ill., a corporation of Illinois 14 Claims.

My invention relates to closure devices and more particularly to valvedevices such as pressure or vacuum relief Valves, check valves, rebaililes and the like, for the control of the passage of fluid betweencommunicating spaces.

Application April 15, 1943, Serial No. 483,113

` V(Cl. 137-53) I V'J'.'he valves are particularly applicable anddesirable for use as closures on tanks, containers, conduits, etc., inconnection with thestorage or handling of volatile and inflammablefluids, that is, as a pressure or vacuum relief valve. The same ,L

is particularly applicable for the uses mentioned since the sameprovides a combined relief valve and re baille, and may be constructedto be very -sensitive to low pressures, but its use is not limited toIthose enumerated.

duction of a closure or valve of the kind described which is simple, offew parts, reliable, durable, inexpensive, efiicient and satisfactoryfor use in numerous different installations. `It has particularly as anobject an improved valve or closure which is adapted to function andcontrol the passage of :duid by force within itself,r Whether operatingas a pressure or-vacuum relief valve.

In the preferred embodiments of the closure the same is in the form of atubular helical spring providing a Chamber closed at one end and open atthe other end and arranged ffor'attachment to a cooperating part .and tocommunicate with an opening or port through the part, the same beingdisposed toprovide a control for the passage of uid through the portfrom one space to the other. The closure -or valve provides for aplurality of valve seats or rather an extended or elongated continuousvalve and seatv for an eX- tended length or area.

A further object of the invention is the production of a novel valveconstruction which is entirely dependable in service, which will not beinoperative due to corrosion and sticking together of parts and which,due to the seating of the coils and the twisting action in lopening orclosing, will readily separate r pull the coils apart and ,tear itselfvloose when opening Yup. Likewise in seat- A ing, the slightcircumferential movement of the coils when closing has a tendency toseat them rmly on each other or on a separating gasket.

Among its further objects is the production of a valve of the type shownin combination with a gasket of `helical formation corresponding withthe helical formation of a spring and concentric therewith whichprovides a double seat for or between adjacent coils. A further objectof the invention is`the production of a device. in which the yrelativemovement l1.5 The invention has among its objects the prov of the valvemember coils during .operation is controlled, thereby controlling theareaof the openingsbetween the coils through which the fuid passes.Another object is the provision of means for accomplishing an adjustmentofthe spring tension. Y y

A further object is the production of a valve of the kind describedprovided with means for retaining the coils against relative lateraldisplacement as well as maintaining the gasket against displacementWhere gaskets are employed.

Many other ob-jects and advantages of the construction herein shown anddescribed will be ob'- vious to those skilled in the art from thedisclosure herein given. i f

To this end my invention consists in. the novel construction,arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, andmore particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate likey orcorresponding parts:

Fig. l is a sectional View of a container provided with a pressurerelief valve and a vacuum relief valve; l Y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View partially in elevation illustratingthe construction of, the valves shown in Fig. 1l.

Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating another embodiment of theinvention and including means for preventing the lateral displacement ofthe coils and gasket;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a modified form of gasket; Y y

Fig. 6 is a similar view illustrating another form; 1

Fig. 7 isa View of a'portion of a device showing a modified arrangementfor limiting the separation of the coils;

Figs. 8 and 9 are similar views illustrating another type ofconstruction; and

Fig. 10 is a View similar to the other figures but illustrating amodified construction in which supplemental springs are employed.

Referring to `the 'drawings in which` several embodiments of myinvention are shown, my improved device may be generally described as avalve for controllingthe passage of iiuid between communicating spaces,thesame consisting of a helical or coiled `spring providedwith means forclosing one end and lwith means for securing the device in' operativerelation with a suitable support. 'Ihe several coils of the spring formsubstantially an elongated helical valve member which when expandedv or.extended .will permit the passage of -fluid between the coils, andwhich when contracted or closed will prevent the passage of the fluid,the direction of flow depending 3 upon the relative pressures within andwithout the Coil.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, I generally designates the valve whichis constructed in the form of a spring or. helical member IU, the-.mate-.rial entering' into the helical being` a suitable metal or a plastic orany equivalent which may be extended or contracted as required and whichis muy extended au of the links win be substantially parallel with theaxis of the helical member instead of inclined as shown. The links andtheir-application to the adjacent coils may be so designed that thedesired maximum spacing may be av predetermined amount, for example,

by limiting the opening of the coils to an amount not to exceedapproximately 0.03 inch, thereby adapting theY device as a flameresistor or baille this' to a more or less extentA depending upon thematerial available and the purpose for which the valve is to beemployed. The spring or helical member is-Y provided with a cap,closurey or disc member I I at one end closing that end of the helicalmember, whilethev opposite end is left open and provided withafi-suitable member I2 for securing the same' in place, as for example,on a wall separating two spaces and provided. with a port" for thepassage of fuid from one space to the other. 'The connecting member'shown in Fig. 2 consists of a part I2 threadedas. indicated at l?to-secure the same in place. The particular iittingv orA member I2shown' in Fig. 2' is provided with a flange I5 and with holes I6I sothat it may be engaged byaspanner wrench and secured in place. It shouldbe understood, however, that the device itself may be secured in placein any suitable manner other than that shownand that it maybe formed tob'e engaged by any particular style of wrench desired, this alldepending upon the method of securing the same in place.

As illustrated' in Fig. 2; IT representsa gasket or packing member ofsuitable material which is of helical for-mation aridl concentric withthe c'oil's Ill);v the same forming a seat for the adjacent coils I0 asillustrated. I'have-also illustrated the adjacent coils I0 connected bya series of links I8 ofv suitable size' and" material which aiord meanslforlimiti'ng the expansion of the spring, thereby limiting orcontrollingthe size of the openings between lthe coils and gasket orthat which may be termed the valve opening. These links areYparticularly desirablewhere" the valve is used to controll the passageof volatile or inammable material since they' limit the* action ofthespring: to maintain a definite size of opening between the coils.They also prevent the spring.' from extending to` a degree suicient toput a set in the same. These links limit the amount the helical member.may be elongated or extended when; the device. is` un'der an abnormal`pressure, and* also maintain the gasket in place. As shown,A the linksare .inclined to longitudinal'` axisr ot the spring when the. helical,memberis in. its normal. undistorted or` closed position".y The:elongation of the helical' member noty only'separatesadjacent coils. butcauses slight relative4 ci'rcuiniereiltial movement of' the separatedvvcoilsi in. directions tending to move the links into' parallelism.with.' the longitudinal axis of thev helical. member; so that: when thedevice sinceflames due to ignition or gas escaping into or out of thedevice cannot travel backwardly through the narrow spacing and arequenched by contact with the closely spaced coils.

With. this type of valve seat the coils have slight tendency toy sticktogether or freeze due to'v corrosion or. for other reasons along thecontacting face and only a small pressure dr force is required" toovercome the adhesion due to any cause". since all of the elongatedforce may operate at one point to break the adhesion and that point willusually be where thev corrosive or other adhesion is' at a' minimum. -Asthe coil is pulled open at this point the contiguous corroded areas willbe progressively separated or fcrcedapart andthe f'orce required tothus`progressively tear apart the contacting stickingsurface is obviouslymuch smaller'than that necessary to pull a con-t ventional rigidvalve'bod'y off' its seat to which it adheres, since in order to yield,the entire annular surfaces of the latter must be separatedsimultaneously.

In Fig. l there is shown a tank or receptacle 2U, the space within thetank being'v one space',` while` at the exterior of theV tank is theother space,y i1; being desired that these spaces may communicate' butcomrriunicationv prevented` as desired. The tank 2U is provided with aclosure 2I` for lling or otherwisev and upon one ofthe walls,` as'shownwall' I9, are illustrated: two of myimproved devices, 2'2 indicating'apressure' relief valve and 23 vacuum relief valve. 'I'ie connectingmember' lI-24 onv the Vacuum relief 'valvaindicatedl generallyl as- 23,is arranged on the helical member as shownin Fig.f2, while on thepressure .reliefy valve designated generally as 22, the member IZ is'shown reversed. This gure is intended to show the application of' thevalvel as' a pressure orA vacuum relief valve, it

being understood that only'lonel might be emiployed, this depending uponthe use to` which the valve is to bel put. Where desired, gasketsv 24may beinserted between the parts to prevent leakage of iluid. Purely forpurposes of illustration, I have shown` a draw-olf valve 25 for theparticular tank illustrated which of course may also provide a means forfillingl the tank when a hose: or the like is connected to the same.Withdrawing the-.contents of the' tank would cause the vacuum relief`valve 23 to operate, breaking. the vacuum, whilev expansion" of thecontents of the tank, increasing theI internal pressure, would have itspressure relieved vbyy the operation of the valve indicated at 22. Fig.l isintendedv to merely illustrate aV use of the device. v

The devi-ce shown in Figs. 3 and 4 in generalis the same as thatshowninFig. 2 except-a modified type of gasket IJ. is shown.y As shownthe. gasket H" is square in. cross section; However, this gureillustrates the application of guide. mem@ bers 26. and 21 which mayvlbe employed. for guiding the movement of the coils aswell as retainingthe gasket or seatv Il. in' its place.. These guides may be placed onthe inside or: outside of.Y the gasket may be of any suitable material,preferably l diii'ering from that in the coil itself, and forms a seatfor the coil contiguous tothe one carrying the gasket.. The gasket maybe of the desired size and shape, and secured in place by swedging itinthe groove, which may be'fshapecl f to retain it in place.

Fig. 6 illustrates another form of device in which 3| represents thecoils of the spring or helical member and 32 the gasket of suitablematerial which in this case is in the form cfa covering for the coil.".Fig. 7 illustrates a modified form of linkage connecting the coils 33.These links 34 span the gasket 35 and connect the coils and function'inthe same manner as the links lI8 shown in Fig. 2. Convenientlythe. endsof the links 34 may be bent at right angles to their main portions andinserted to holes in the coils 33. In Fig. 8 the device is more or lesssimilar except in this case the gasket 31 between the coils 36 is of adifferent shape. In Fig. 9 the coil is of a modified cross sectionalshape. as indi,- cated at 38, provided with edges that will impinge orforml its seat in the gasket 39 which ordinarily would be 'of a'soitermaterial.

Referring to Fig. 10, means is provided for varying or controlling thetension ofthe spring or Yhelical member making up the valve. In thisconstruction 40 represents the coilsV of the spring. 4| the closure forone end of the spring, and 42 the supporting memlber which maybeconstructed as indicated at 43 or in some other satisfactory manner forattachment toa cooperating part.

The gasket 44 shown in this gure is of a slightly diilerent crosssectional sha/pe. Links for controlling or limiting theexpansion of thespring or means for preventing lateral movement are not shown in thisfigure. since they are amply disclosed and described in the otherfigures and are not always used. As shown, the supporting member 42carries thedesired number of rods or guides 45 which extend to andthrough the closure 4| whichis slidable on the rods. Arranged on therods are supplemental springs 46 which are interposed between theclosure 4l and washers 41 and nuts 48.- By increasing or decreasing thetension on the lsprings 46 a control of the expansion of the spring 40is provided. By increasing the tension on the springs 4B, obviouslygreater pressure within the coils 4.0 will be require-d to separate thecoils or open the valve.

From the preceding description it will be obvious that I have devised avalve particularly adapted for controlling the passage of uid betweencommunicating spaces and a valve that is notsubject to becominginoperative through corrosion and freezing'of the parts together due tocorrosion. v f

This is particularlyv important on installations where the controllingpressures permitted are of small amount. p For illustration, a large eldstorage tank with substantial roof spread but being made of relativelylight metals where pressure beyond an inch or two of water or a vacuumof that amount would tend to raise the roof or collapse the tank,respectively. Where the breathing of such tanks is controlled by valves.even though these'valves originally are built to be pointsyprogressively moved iby slight pressures, a corrsionorrsticking,`whichk frequently occurs, causes excessive pressure vor vacuum to buildup lwithin theicon- 'tainen My invention overcomes the hazard of theconventional valve in that it is less subject to corrosion. In aconventional valve seat the entire perimeter of the Valve may -becorroded shut, requiring extraordinary pressure to tear -the -closuzreaway from the seat.

In my limproved valve `the pressure against the closure disc will tendto be vapplied as atearing action at minute breaking rup the freezingfof the coils. I l

While a coil spring has been heretofore em- .ployed in relation tothecontrol of fluid, there lhave been limitations in` use which preclude auniversal application. It is Well known that in a coil spring, eventhough `the individual member coils be contiguous to one another and intight contact, the nature of the seating between the two coilsis notiiuid tight except undenpressure so great as to practically force the'material in the coils to adjust themselves toene ranother which is ofcourse 'impractical where pressures are comparatively low. In myinvention the'use of the independent contiguous gasketing helicalmember. whether that helicalmember be `of soft or relatively hardmaterial, affords a fluid tight joint even though thepressures formingthe contact between the controlling elements of the spring and thegasketing elements between be relatively small. The device has many usesor applications and may be sub-ject to many modifications, dependinguponthe particular use for which it is intended. Obviously, thematerialsv entering into the valve may be such as are suitable for thepurposegand while ordinarily the helical member or spring wouldgenerallybe made of suitable spring metal. it is possibleto construct asatisfactory device by Aemploying plastics or some equivalent. Likewise`the gasket or packing material may be such as is other form of securingmeans or support for the l device and method of securing the same to thewalll or support may be realily devised by those l skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention. it is obvii ous that variousimmaterial modifications of certain details may be made in the samewithout departing from the spirit of my invention; hence'I do not wishto berunderstood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction,arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or usesmentioned. v

' What I claim'asy new and desire tok secure by Letters Patent is: 1. Ina nuid controi deviceof the kind described, a helical spring providedwith a closure at one end and `'with supporting means at the other end,the coils of the spring constitutingI an elongated helical `valvemember, va helically formed gasket interposed between the faces ofadjacent coils of the valve member and concentric therewith providing avalve seat for the valve member disposed between adjacent valve membercoils, said helical spring and helically formedl gasket being movablerelative to each other.

v2. In a fluid control device of the kind de scribed,` ay helical vspring provided with; a yclosure at.. oneV end. and withsupporting-means at the otherend., the coils of the spring constitutingan` a helically; -f'ormed gasket interposedbetween the adjacent coils ofthe valve member and concentric there` elongated helical valve member;

with providinga Valve: seat forthe valve memelongatedl helical valvemember, a helically -formed gasket interposed between the adjacent coilsof the valve member-and-concentric therewithV providing avalve seat for*the Valve'member disposed between adjacent valve member coils, andrestraining means connecting adjacent coils for retaining the gasketV`coils against rela` tive. lateralv outward displacement.

4.1In a device of the kind described connected together-With thev coilsof one disposed between the coils of the other, one member of resilientmaterial. under` a desired tension for maintaining. the coils-,in apredetermined relationship, the other member of packing materialproviding a gasket between the coils of the resilient helical member,and restraining means connecting adjacent coils for ,positivelyconnecting the coils of theresilient member and limiting the relativeseparation thereof..

5. In a device ofthekind described consisting .of a plurality ofspirally `arranged members connectedv together with the coils ofionedisposed between the lcoils `ci' the other, onemember of resilientmaterial under .a desired tension vfor, main.- taining the coils in apredetermined relationship, the other member of yieldablepackingmaterial providing a gasket between the coils. of the resil.-

ient helical member, means-for positively connectingthe coils of theresilientmember and limiting the relative separation thereof,` and meansfor preventing displacement of -the gasket.`

6. A device of the kind described consisting of abody member providing achamber, the walls of the body consisting of. a. helicallyv woundspring, one end ofthe spring being closed and the other open andarranged for attachmentl tov azcooperating part, and restraining meansconnecting adjacent coils for securing adjacent coils together consist-lying; of a plurality of. helically arranged, members v disposed betweenvthev Spring coils and'- meansY vfor retaining the gasket in place. 1-

92. A device. forcontrolling; thev passage of iluid betweencommunicating spaces comprising a coiled lspring open at one end andprovided at said` end with means for: supporting the samef in operativerelationior connecting the spaces,'with the interior lof'the spring'opento one spacet and with thel exterior disposed in the other*l space,vclosure means4 at the opposite endof the spring operable bypressure`diierential between thev communicating spaces to'extend the spring whenpressure within the same isgreater than thepressure surroundingit, ahelical f gasket member interposed between the coils ofthe springforming: ar` seat therebetween when the spring isVV con'- tracted, thespring. being formed with an initial tension suflcient tonormallymaintain the spring coils` and gasket coils in leak-proof engagement to'prevent passage' offluid from one space tothe other, and linkspivotall'y connected to adjacent coils for limiting the separation ofthe coils.'

10. In a iluid control device of the kind described, ahelical springprovided with'a closure at oneV end and withv supporting means vat theother end,vthe coilsV of the spring constituting an elongated helicalvalve member, the" spaces betweeny the coils providing a continuous openport for the p'assage'ofl ilui'dv when thespring 'isA extended by adifferenceofl uid pressure within and without theinterior of the spring,and means for controlling the spring tension.r

1I. A device for controlling the passageV of nuidbetween communicatingspaces comprising 'a .coiled spring having'closurevmeans at one end andopen' at the other and provided' at the open end with means forsupporting the same in one space in operative relationwith a portcommunicating with the other space, and with the interior Vof the springatthe open end, saidclosure` means at the end of 'the vspringoperable'by pressure differential' betweeny the communicating spaces toextendthe spring when pressure within the same is greater than thepressure surrounding it, the spring being formed withlan initial tensionsui'cient to normally` maintain the spring.

' coils contracted, and restraining means connectand limiting ,therelative longitudinaland circumferential movements of the coils..

7. A devicey of the kind described consisting of abody member providinga chamber, thevvalls of the body consisting of a helically wound spring,one end of the spring being closedv and the. other open and arranged forattachment to a cooperating part, restraining means for securingadjacent coils together and limiting the relative longitudinalandrcircumferential movements of the coils, i and a helical gasketdisposed between the spring ential movement ofy the. coils ay helicalgasket f ing adjacet coils for limitingythe extension' of the spring. 2

12; A device for controlling the passage of uid between twocommunicating spaces comprisinga coiled spring open at one end yforcommunication with'one space and provided at said end with means forsupporting the same in operative'relation with a port connecting withsaid space, the opposite end disposed in the other space, vclosure meansat said opposite end of the spring operable by pressure diierentialbetweenthe communicating spacesv to extend the spring when pressurewithin the same is greater than the pressure surrounding it, the springbeing formed with an initial tension suicient to normally maintain thespring coils in a desired contracted relation,

means for contrllingthe extension of the spring, and means forpreventing transverse'displfacement of the spring.

13. A device4 for controllingv the passage of iluid between twocommunicating spaces lcomprising avcoiledis'pring open at one end andprovided vat said end with meansinfone' space for supporting the samerinoperative relation vwith aA -port connectingthe spaces of the spring atone end open through thesaid port, to the otherspace, closure meansV atthe end opposite the. open end of the spring, said closure meansoperable by pressure dierential between the communicating 'spaces toextend the spring when pressure within` the spring is greater than thepressure without it, the spring being formed with an initial tensionsuicient to normally maintain the spring coils in desired relation,means for controlling the extension of the spring, and supplementalmeans for controlling the extension and contraction of the spring duringoperation of the valve.

14. A device for controlling the passage of uid between twocommunicating spaces, comprising a coiled spring open at one end andprovided at said end with means for supporting the same.

1n operative relation with the spaces with the in terior `of-thefspringopen at one end to one space,

closure means at the other end of said spring links pivotally connectedto adjacent ycoils forv limiting the separation of the coils.

RUDOLPH J. ANSCHICKS.

